Should You Consider a Water Flosser? Why a Water Flosser is a Good Idea

Water flossers are new products that seem to be all of the rage right now. Whether or not you should use a water flosser should be a question that you ask your dentist in Hornsby, ensuring that this is the best product to use for your teeth and gums. Using the right products can make all of the difference in your oral health, which is why a water flosser is often highly recommended for patients to use. Reading on, you can learn all about what a water flosser is and why you should be using one.

How Do Water Flossers Work?
The water flosser is a device that is handheld and can be used to remove the plaque and food particles stuck in between your teeth. You have to fill the product with water, then place it in your mouth before turning it on. It should be placed right above the gum line before turning it on, then move along the gum and in between your teeth. The water flosser uses a steady and gentle stream of water to clean all of those hard-to-reach areas in your mouth.

Why You Should Use a Water Flosser
If you don’t have the proper technique when flossing, you can often experience bleeding and discomfort when flossing the traditional way. Using dental floss in a harsh or incorrect way can also lead to these same issues. Unfortunately, bleeding and uncomfortable gums are also symptoms of gum disease, which is an infection that’s caused by a buildup of tartar and plaque. You will still notice some discomfort when you first start with a water flosser, even if it is gentler than dental floss. The good news is that you can get rid of some of this sensitivity by using a different speed or temperature water. If there’s still a problem, you should contact your dentist.

Traditional flossing can be a problem for some people. Some people hate the discomfort that it causes them. Some people have medical conditions like Parkinson’s or arthritis, which makes flossing with dental floss nearly impossible to do. Water flossing is a great alternative because it’s easier to use while still offering a high level of clean.

Water flossing is also a great idea for people who have complex orthodontic or restorative treatment. Crowns, braces, and non-removable bridges can make it harder to reach certain areas in your mouth. A water flosser can help you clean out these areas much easier than if you didn’t have one.

Water flossers are highly effective devices that can significantly improve your oral health.

Conclusion
Gentle Care Dentistry wants to make sure that you have the right information when it comes to dental healthcare. Oral health is so important when it comes to your overall health, which is why you should consider using products like a water flosser to ensure the highest level of clean for your mouth. Brushing can only do so much and using a water flosser can make a significant difference in your oral health when used properly.

7 Habits That Can Stain Your Teeth

Everyone longs for nice bright white teeth, don't they? If you are noticing that your teeth are becoming stained and discoloured, there are some habits that you may have fallen into that could be contributing to your discoloured teeth.

The most common reason for stained teeth is consuming food or drink that contains chemical compounds called chromogens. These are typically present in food and drinks with an intense colour, such as red wine or coffee. But there are plenty of other culprits too. Here are some of the main offenders.

 

1.    Coffee, Tea and Red Wine

These three baddies are the most common causes of stained teeth. The chromogens in coffee can stick to the enamel of your teeth (gross!), which will then cause staining over time.

Black tea contains tannins that can have a worse staining effect than coffee. Adding milk to your tea can help reduce the chance of staining over time.

Red wine is one of the most apparent teeth stainers, but you can reduce the chances of staining by sipping water along with your wine.

Ultimately reducing your intake of these beverages or cutting them out altogether is the only way to prevent them from staining your teeth over a prolonged period.

2.    Acidic drinks

You may be surprised at some of the other drinks that can cause teeth staining. Due to the high sugar content, pigments and acid in sports drinks and fizzy drinks like cola, these drinks can also cause significant dental stains.

White wine is, perhaps surprisingly, just as bad as red wine when it comes to causing dental stains. The high acid content can erode the enamel on your teeth, making them more prone to staining from other food and drink.

3.    Teeth staining foods

Food with deep colours such as beetroot, tomatoes, berries and soy sauce can all cause teeth staining. Curry is also a big offender, along with tomato-based sauces and salad dressing made with balsamic vinegar.

4.    Not drinking enough water

We are always being told to drink more water, and there is a good reason for that. As well as keeping you hydrated and assisting in the body's ability to flush out toxins, water helps to rinse away debris on your teeth that might cause staining. So put down the cola and switch to water instead.

5.    Smoking

Everyone knows that smoking is an all-around villain with regard to your overall health. It is one of the major causes of teeth staining in addition to other oral health issues such as gum disease and mouth cancer. Another good reason to quit!

6.    Not Brushing or Flossing your teeth

Brushing your teeth twice a day is a bit of a given, right? But if you regularly skimp on your dental routine, this could be contributing to your teeth discolouration. Brushing twice a day with a good quality fluoride toothpaste and flossing at least once a day are essential routines to maintain healthy-looking teeth. 

7.    Not visiting the dentist

Keeping up with your dental appointments is one of the main ways to keep your teeth healthy. A dentist can spot any problems early on and give valuable advice on avoiding oral health problems such as teeth staining.

If you're nervous about visiting the dentist, then look no further than Gentle Care Dentist in Hornsby. We will put your mind at rest and ensure that you are well taken care of. 

5 Reasons to Invest in a Holiday Smile

We’re all familiar with the fellowship and exuberance of the holiday season. For most people in the so-called, Western world it is a period of several weeks where we build up in eager anticipation of Christmas and the New Year. In North America, of course, there are a few more holidays starting with Thanksgiving in November.

The common denominator, whichever country you live in, is that it’s also a time of indulgence and excess. From gingerbread houses to candy canes, eggnog to mulled wine, the season is filled with once-a-year treats that are everything but friends of good dental health.

Whilst it’s unlikely that that last mouthful of Christmas pudding with brandy and orange sauce will see you rushing off to the dental emergency room, it is never a good idea to ignore your oral health. Not even in the holiday season.

In fact, it might, indeed, be an opportune time to remind yourself why you should look after your mouth. Here are five reasons why you should take special care of your smile.

1. Confidence and happiness

Smile and the world smiles with you. No one will dispute that a smile spreads a feeling of congeniality, peace and general wellbeing. And, not least, inwardly. Smiling promotes happiness and provides a boost to your health.

Smiling is also a great confidence booster. The world loves a smile. And the person who is smiling. But there is a catch. It takes confidence to smile. Most people feel very self-conscious about showing unhealthy, uneven or discoloured teeth.

Looking after your teeth will give you the confidence to smile. 

2. Prevention is better than a cure

A stitch in time saves nine. Taking precautions with your dental hygiene can help prevent potentially serious conditions from developing later on. A good basic dental hygiene regimen at home is not always enough though,

You should also visit a dentist at least twice a year for a routine examination and assessment. If anything untoward is happening in your mouth, early diagnosis will make the treatment a lot quicker and simpler

Dental care has become extremely expensive and avoiding just one visit can save a lot of money.

3. Appearance

Whether we like it or not, good looks open doors. And without good teeth, good looks are just a little more difficult to pull off. There are definite social benefits to looking after your smile, as narcissistic as it may sound.

4. General health

Like any infection, oral bacteria, if left unchecked, can also spread to other parts of the body. Bacteria generally do not do well in clean environments. Preventing bacterial infections reduces the risk of more serious general health issues. It also prevents bad breath which can be a very big social hindrance.

5. Medical benefit limits

A sad fact of modern-day life is that we have become dependent on insurance products to cope with the high cost of healthcare. In order to get the best from the premiums we pay, we have to keep track of what we’re paying for.

As we approach the end of the year, you may want to make that last appointment. Using up this year’s limit on that last quick check up will take a little pressure off the next year. You’ve paid for it so use it.
To make the most of your holiday smile, call Gentle Care Dentistry, the foremost Hornsby dentists. We’re here for you.

The Perfect Smile is Easy to Obtain

For the ideal smile it is important to consider both health and aesthetics. Fortunately, Gentle Care Dentistry can guide you through the process of achieving a healthy and beautiful smile.

The Importance of a Healthy Smile
Your health should always come first, so when it comes to your teeth, maintaining a healthy smile is of utmost importance. There are several steps you should take daily to maintain your health. Obviously, it is of great importance that you brush your teeth at least twice a day. By using an electric toothbrush, you can ensure that every surface is as clean as possible, and to get in between your teeth it is crucial that you floss once a day. Without completing these daily tasks, you risk tooth decay and gum disease as a result of increased bacteria growth. Furthermore, it is important to see your dentist for regular check-ups to ensure there are no irregularities with your smile. If you are in need of a Dentist in Hornsby, Gentle Care Dentistry can offer check-ups, cleans, orthodontics, implants as well as general, major and cosmetic dentistry to ensure your smile is always at its best. 

The Benefits of Invisalign
If you are in need of orthodontic care, braces are a common solution. However, there are many uncomfortable and inconvenient disadvantages associated with braces that can be avoided with Invisalign. Invisalign aligners can be removed for eating and cleaning limiting tooth decay whilst remaining virtually invisible. Moreover, braces can be incredibly uncomfortable often causing headaches and irritation to the gums which is entirely avoided with Invisalign aligners. For Invisalign in Hornsby, Gentle Care Dentistry’s dentists can provide almost anyone with Invisalign, especially adults who would rather not have braces.

Everything you should know about Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic Dentistry is all about increasing your confidence and giving you the smile you desire. The following are all cosmetic procedures available at Gentle Care Dentistry:

● Veneers
Veneers are bonded to the front of a tooth to alter a tooth’s shape and colour, creating a natural and healthy-looking smile. There are two main options: Composite and Porcelain Veneers. These different types come at different prices and each have their own pros and cons. You can contact Gentle Care Dentistry’s dentists for a consultation to help make this decision.

● Teeth Whitening
Teeth can be whitened by using a bleaching agent, and different treatment options are available based on your personal history. It’s important to have a check-up with Gentle Care Dentistry beforehand to assess your teeth, and see which procedure is best for you. The two main processes available are an in-chair session, and a night take home kit. Each choice takes a different period of time to become effective, and not all teeth whitening options are acceptable for everyone.

● Cosmetic Injectables
If you are interested in treating jaw muscle over-activity, or improving facial aesthetics, cosmetic injectables are also available. 

For a Cosmetic Dentist in Hornsby, Gentle Care Dentistry can provide you with the perfect smile. And for all your other dental needs, you can contact them today via Gentle Care Dentistry’s website.

How to Look After a Dental Implant, Bridge, or Dentures at Home

The pandemic has brought with it, hundreds of new ways for people to manage everyday life without being able to return to the norm. Some people will restrict themselves from local services for fear of catching or spreading Covid-19, and even without restrictions, some may still argue about the safety of these services. People who are at risk may not want to visit their local hairdresser, eye doctor, or even dentists.

This makes life especially difficult for those who pay regular visits to a local dentist in Hornsby. Many people may not feel comfortable visiting a local dentist, even when we’re able to, for fear of getting ill or perhaps putting others at risk. There’s no way that you’ll be able to do serious dental procedures by yourself while at home, but there are certain steps that you can take to look after a dental implant, a bridge, or even dentures while in the comfort of your own home.  

Dental Implants

Perhaps one of the most important things that you can do for your dental implants at home is to keep them clean. Keeping them clean is essential in maintaining the lifestyle of the implant. A common form of infection that can develop around implants is a gum disease known as peri-implant disease. This is caused by a build-up of plaque and can cause bone loss around the implant. 

Regular cleaning and maintenance are important at home since you may not be able to visit your local dentist in Hornsby for health reasons. You should brush your implants at least twice a day with a soft toothbrush, including under and around the crown of the implant. You could also benefit from using an interdental brush coated with nylon to clean around it.

Bridges

Dental bridges will fill the gaps in your mouth, replacing a missing tooth with a false tooth, and being bonded to natural teeth on either side of the gap. Again, emphasis needs to be on having a clean bridge, so regular brushing is especially important.

Your dentist will have likely advised you to avoid hard or sticky foods, and this advice is more important now than ever. Since you may not be able to make it into a dentist, just avoid hard and sticky foods entirely! It can cause damage to your bridge and will leave you with some real problems and no solutions. Clean the bridge twice daily and use spongy floss where possible.

Dentures

With dentures, routine maintenance is also equally important. Clean your dentures over a sink of water each day and don’t wear them at night unless your dentist has told you to do so. Make sure that you’re using a specific denture cleaner each week for a deeper clean, as you want them to be as clean as possible.

Most importantly, take care of them. If your dentist isn’t open, or you won’t be able to make it in, getting a replacement denture could take a number of weeks at least, and at worst, might not be available until the pandemic is over!

Speak to us for any dental needs including help and advice on what to do in a dental emergency - 8411 2674

5 Reasons to Invest in Your Holiday Smile

One of the most stressful parts of the holidays is the expectation of photographs, especially if you are self-conscious about your smile. With all of the other aspects of life that take our time and focus, it can be challenging to devote time to your teeth, but it is a fundamental part of self-care that helps improve mental and physical wellbeing.

1.    Confidence
There are many health reasons to take care of your teeth, but your self-confidence is one of the most important aspects. When you are uncomfortable with your teeth, and therefore your smile, you are less likely to be comfortable in any face-to-face interaction with other people. 

If you find yourself worrying about how your smile looks, you distract yourself from the matter at hand, whether for work, school, or your personal life. Whether your teeth are misaligned, stained, or yellowed, a trip to the dentist will help get you on the right path!

2.    Avoiding Daily Damage
The hardest part of maintaining a healthy, happy smile is the daily routine required. Unfortunately, your teeth undergo structural and cosmetic damage daily due to the food and beverages we consume, and building a daily routine is the best way to combat this damage.

Work with your dentist to not only schedule regular cleanings but also develop a home tooth-care routine that will help prevent all this periodic damage

3.    Saving Money
There's a reason that dental health care is a kind of investment. By taking the time to care for your teeth right now, you will save money in the future. The cost to correct long-term damage is significantly higher than the tiny expense that comes from regular maintenance.

In general, restorative dental work is the most expensive and time-consuming variety that there is, so taking care of your teeth regularly will prevent these costs and discomfort from adding up.

4.    Preventing Bad Breath
This reason ties into number one on our list, but another byproduct of poor dental hygiene that leads to self-confidence issues is the potential for persistent bad breath. While having a breath mint moments before you need to be near someone is a temporary solution, a permanent solution is the only way to prevent this kind of bad breath from continuing.

 

There are several causes for persistent bad breath, and almost all of them are due to poor dental hygiene. Speak to your dentist to discover what steps you need to take to correct or prevent this from happening to you.

5.    Avoiding Pain And Infection
In extreme cases, poor dental hygiene can lead to infections, gum diseases, and cavities. These conditions do not only cause discomfort, but if left untreated will cause significant damage to your teeth, and pain to accompany it.

Oral health is one of the most important aspects of personal care, and if you don't already see a Hornsby Dentist regularly, it isn't too late to start. Book an appointment and speak candidly with your dentist to learn what steps you need to take now to ensure you can smile happily and often!

How to Maintain a Regular Dental Routine for Children

 Many dentists will tell you that the key to good oral hygiene is having good habits from a very young age. Even if you’re able to do everything right as an adult, having important oral hygiene as a child can have a big impact on your teeth as you get older.

The best kind of dental care for kids is actually before a baby’s first tooth appears. The teeth are actually already there, they’re just hidden in the gums. When your child is born, they have 20 primary teeth, most of which are already formed. Parents are advised to wipe gums clean with a damp washcloth to clear away bacteria and as soon as those teeth come out, get them brushed with an infant toothbrush with fluoride toothpaste.

Building Up Good Dental Health

Plaque is the enemy where teeth are concerned. Plaque is a thin, clear film of bacteria that sticks to your teeth. The bacteria in your mouth absolutely love sugar, so as soon as it’s on your teeth, the bacteria breaks it down into acid that eats away at your tooth enamel. This can cause holes, called cavities. It can also cause gingivitis, a gum disease that can affect your gums, making your teeth loose and eventually, fall out!

The last thing anyone wants, including your kids, is teeth that are sore, full of cavities, and unhealthy gums. You’ll not enjoy eating your favourite foods and you won’t feel much like smiling either.

Parents should be helping their children with dental health because it’s an integral part of a child’s wellbeing. At Gentle Care Dentistry, we’re a dentist in Hornsby that cares, and we’ve been able to devise a few things to help to maintain a regular dental health routine for children. 

●    Let Your Kids Decide
One of the best things you can do is give your child some hygiene independence. Make sure that they brush their teeth twice a day but let them choose their own toothbrush and toothpaste to make it “their own”.

●    Get a Fun Timer
Dentists recommend 2 minutes of brushing, twice a day. Get your kids a fun little timer with their favourite cartoon character on it. This can encourage them to brush for the appropriate time, while still being fun.

●    Reward Them
Don’t reward them with sugary treats, but instead something else they value. Maybe a week of good habits will get them a new toy, or perhaps get them out of doing chores. Something they value will help them see it through.

●    Make the Dentist Fun
The negative connotation attached to the dentist is likely due to the occasional temporary pain some can experience. Doing something fun before or after can really help to ease the pressure on the trip, making it a better experience.


Make your children’s health an important part of growing up – Call us now! – 8411 2674